The Office (TV Series) Initiation (2006) User Reviews

gets better on repeated viewings...

[lilpuppychow2003 · 8/10 · 25 September 2009]

This episode was not one of my favorites until I watched it a couple times after initial airing. I really appreciate, now, though.

The odd thing about Jim and Pam's relationship is that it has been most touching when they were far away. At one point Pam is speaking on the phone with Jim. She asks him was time it is there; Jim points out that they're in the same time zone. They realize how great the divide has felt since Jim left.

The pretzel storyline is well-executed. Many people really do look forward to a few things each year, reminding themselves again and again of little pleasures. I'm familiar with such a feeling.

Dwight has grown a bit more cartoonish over the years, but in this episode I see Dwight as I think he was meant to be--the odd, eccentric, yet intelligent follower of Michael's foolishness. Michael is shown as the almost amazingly inefficient boss who somehow lands great clients. I enjoy that contradiction.

All in all, a very well-rounded episode.

Initiation (#3.5)

[ComedyFan2010 · 9/10 · 29 December 2018]

Dwight makes an initiation for Ryan.

Of course the initiation was hilarious. "Challenges" Dwight made for Ryan including driving away from him. Stanley's excitement about pretzel day was also adorably funny.

But the highlight of the episode was not even one of the funny parts but Pam and Jim talking on the phone. It was so easy and fun as they always did.

Pretzel day

[evansjoshyr · 9/10 · 12 January 2021]

This must be the first or one of the first episodes to feature 3 plots all happening in the episode. Previously, most of the episodes have functioned in an a plot b plot structure, and this episode definitely felt different. The difference was, there didn't feel like there was a main story or anything, just 3 very entertaining unrelated plots. Well, unrelated with one exception. The final phone call, OH MY GOSH. I don't want to spoil anything, but it was sad a little funny and well built up to. Good episode

a top 5 Office episode

[rahenson1 · 10/10 · 15 November 2010]

I really don't think anyone reading this will find this a spoiler given that the episode is over four years old. But just in case someone's just picking up the show (that was me a year ago) know that I'm going to talk about what happens in the episode.

This episode has everything I love about The Office. Michael's crazy with Pretzel Day. Dwight is crazy in his own way taking Ryan out on a "sales call". One of my favorite humor lines of all time in the show is "as you planted your seed in the ground now I will plant my seed in you". Even Stanley comes to life. You've got to watch the deleted scene with him and Michael. Best TWSS of all time.

This was one of the first episodes I liked the Stamford story too. The squeaky chair and Jim singing The Cardigans "Lovefool". Poor Karen begging him to stop because it's "not a proportional response" and Andy finishing the lyrics off in his classic falsetto.

And all of this before what is one of the best JAM moments in the show's run. No it's not the wedding or him asking her out on their first date. At least their first date according to Pam - Jim will always say their first date was grilled cheese on the roof in The Client <3 Those have to be top 2.

He was only trying to get Kevin's voice-mail and he got her instead. It's a perfect early JAM moment because they talk so easily just like they always did. And then it ends too soon. I still love the new JAM moments because things worked out for them and I'm glad the show reminds us that love doesn't end after infatuation. But there's something very real about the ones where you want it to go on but it doesn't. Love rarely works out and we waited a long time to see if it would for these characters.

Poor Stanley

[xsilentnone · 10/10 · 12 October 2020]

Poor one got to wait 365 to be excited for something

Hope one day he learn how to cook pretzel

7

[Edvis-1997 · 7/10 · 27 October 2021]

This episode just was too messy. It didn't find it's way and was all over the place. Dwight acting like crazy, too crazy even for himself. I'm not a fan of this, just a meh.

Another weak episode

[fabrisrocha · 6/10 · 3 February 2021]

The third season keeps with its weakness and not fun episodes. I only laugh at a couple of times and for a comedy show it's bad. At least for me, if I watch a comedy show and I don't laugh, it means that there's something wrong with it. Anyway, the 3x05 ep was a bit better than 3x04, that was the worst episode of all series until now. I loved to see Jim and Pam scene at the end and Stanley was the best of it. He was the one who made me laugh the most this time. Dwight's kind of humor doesn't please me at all.

Pretzels and Farm

[vivianla · 17 September 2020]

Jan tells Pam to write up what Michael does throughout the day.

Stanley and Michael are excited about pretzel day. Free pretzels.

Dwight takes Ryan to the Schrute's beets farm.

Jim calls and Pam answers. They have a longer conversation. There is awkwardness and flirtation.